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You may ask what then will become of the fundamental principles of equity and fair play which our constitutions enshrine; and whether I seriously believe that unsupported they will serve merely as counsels of moderation. I do not think that anyone can say what will be left of those principles; I do not know whether they will serve only as counsels; but this much I think I do know — that a society so riven that the spirit of moderation is gone, no court can save; that a society where that spirit flourishes, no court need save.

Judge Learned Hand

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America is free, thank the heavens, America is free. Freedom is what America is about. We are free to do as we choose, when we choose, and how we choose. That comes from being strong and independent and fearless in thought and action, no matter the actions of the outside world.

America is free because we want to be free, because we need to be free. Our flag flies high and proud above this nation. It is there to remind us all that there are those who have gone before who have given their all fighting for freedom, to make sure that freedom would not utterly pass from this earth. Red represents courage, White represents purity, and Blue represents justice. Liberty and freedom are built on these concepts, and they are at the heart of what the American people are about.

But where does freedom come from?

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Viddy of the day: A reading of the Declaration of Independence

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The state of nature has a law of nature to govern it, which obliges every one: and reason, which is that law, teaches all mankind, who will but consult it, that being all equal and independent, no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty, or possessions.

John Locke, Second treatise of government

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Freedom is internal, it comes from the heart, the mind, the soul. Upon the bedrock of freedom, humanity builds itself a place to live, a home and hearth, whereupon a happy life can be built. Freedom has no borders which can hold it within its boundaries, though it has a home here. It is in and of itself, limitless. In the truest sense of the word, man’s basic nature is free, free to do what he or she likes when he or she likes. Freedom does not come from a flag, or from the words of the founding fathers, though both are highly important here. It does not come from on high, from either God or man, from the past or the present.

It comes from you, and it comes from me. It comes from all of us bonding together to make sure that we stay free.

America is free, but not just because of our forefathers. They gave us our freedom from Great Britain, but that does not confer on its own perpetual freedom from everything evil. Though it did give us the start we needed. To be free, one must first free oneself from the chains of tyranny, that was the gift our forefathers gave to us.

America is free, not just because of the efforts of our troops. Now don’t get me wrong, they do much to secure freedom and liberty around the globe, and pay the highest price imaginable for it. All that they do is appreciated by Americans and people the world over. They have our eternal thanks and our undying gratitude, but they are not the wellspring of freedom. They are it’s guardians.

America is free, because “We The People”, not the government, not some elected official, or anything external to ourselves, choose to be free. And we are free to do, and act, and think as we like, because the genesis of freedom is the human mind, and those who founded this nation knew that. They sought to liberate the world with a truly lofty idea indeed, that freedom can be guarded by men in power without being trod upon.

Freedom is celebrated here because we were among the first people on earth to recognize that all people are created free, and our freedom has lasted as long as it has because we recognize how special that freedom is. Today is the day we celebrate the victory of freedom and liberty over tyranny.